"Alright, Wise. Let's get started."
Grace then began explaining what she had discovered.
Based on her scans, the mechanical cores of the three lost machines showed no signs of Ether corrosion or damage. Instead, their logic cores had been enhanced after making contact with the prototype machine's signal.
"Simply put, communicating with the prototype machine made the children smarter. But out of the three, only the Pile Driver received clear command data last Friday," Grace explained, gesturing lightly. "And that command was the same thing it kept repeating: 'Hurry and reinforce the seal.'"
"So the idea of 'reinforcing the seal' was not just chuunibyou nonsense?"
Wise pondered Grace's words, stroking his chin as Grace showed a helpless expression.
"Well, unfortunately, that child still cannot explain things properly, but from the meaning behind it, the prototype machine seems to be calling for other machines to help."
Friday was the first to receive the message, so the information it provided was the clearest and most accurate. As for the other two machines, they only received fragmented signals.
This suggested that the Prototype machine's transmission system might already be damaged.
Even so, Grace came up with a plan. The three boring machines would send signals back to the Prototype machine, then analyze its location based on the response signals.
With that settled, everyone moved out right away and went back into the Hollow.
"Wise, I will be counting on you again... Hmm? Why are you staring at me like that? Don't worry, I am not a child anymore. My emotions will not affect anything important."
Before departing, Wise went to see Koleda, but her response made him realize that perhaps his worries had been unnecessary.
Back at the video store, Wise passed Eous to the Belobog Industries personnel, and not long after, they made their way into the Hollow.
The plan was already in motion. All they needed to do was bring the three intelligent machines to separate locations within the Hollow and determine the prototype machine's position through signal transmission.
And because Grace needed to keep her attention on the signals at all times, Koleda took on the role of holding Wise.
After the machines were in position, Grace activated the system and transmitted a signal to the prototype machine. A reply came through shortly after, confirming that the plan was working.
However, the high frequency signal also caught the attention of the Ethereals. Many of them swarmed around Grace, including a High-level Ethereal.
With only Grace and the Pile Driver there, dealing with them alone would be very hard.
Koleda looked extremely anxious when she heard about it.
"Grace, stop transmitting for now. Do not attract the Ethereal any further. You and the Pile Driver should get out of there first."
From her reaction, it was obvious that their safety mattered more to her than any small argument. Having already lost her father, Koleda did not want to lose another important person.
"Hmph, Sweet Pea, that will not do. Didn't Wise just say that communication cannot be interrupted until the signal calculation is complete?"
Grace was genuinely pleased by Koleda's concern, but she did not want to give up at such a critical moment, choosing instead to press on.
Hearing this, Koleda's voice rose noticeably.
"I told you to stop transmitting now! We will continue after we take care of the Ethereal!"
As she said that, everyone was already on the move toward Grace's location, though it would still take a while to reach her.
Grace took the risk because the prototype machine's transmitter was already damaged. If they let this moment slip, contacting it again might not be possible.
"Alright, the guests are here. I can't keep communicating while dealing with them."
The communication cut off immediately, leaving Koleda with no chance to argue.
"Wait, Sister! Don't do this! Damn it, neither of you ever listen! Wise, move, we have to go save her!"
By the time everyone arrived, the High-level Ethereal had already engaged Grace. Fortunately, she wasn't injured.
Once the Ethereal was taken care of, Koleda rushed over, her concern obvious as she checked on Grace.
For a moment, Wise thought Koleda might blurt out something like "You matter more than that machine!"
Grace looked genuinely relieved, as if thinking, 'so my little sister finally learned to worry about her older sister.'
Right after that, Koleda leapt up and knocked her on the head.
Seeing the two of them like this made Wise think of himself and Belle. If Belle ever made the same kind of decision, he knew he wouldn't be able to accept it either.
Because of that, Wise was completely on Koleda's side this time.
Realizing she messed up, Grace lowered her head without thinking, not daring to look at Koleda, but their eyes met anyway.
"You two obviously care about each other a lot. It'd be nice if you were always this honest."
"Cough, cough, let's drop that topic. Wise, we can move on to the next step of finding the Prototype machine, right?"
Koleda coughed twice after hearing Wise, making her tsundere attitude painfully obvious.
Wise could only sigh inwardly, since he still had to listen to what the client was saying.
Using the information they just collected along with Fairy's calculations, the location of the prototype machine was quickly determined.
After some discussion and analysis, everyone roughly concluded that the prototype machine should be near the central monument in memorial plaza.
When she heard the news, Koleda was clearly surprised. Memorial plaza was the building her father never finished, at least as far as she remembered.
Adding that to the name Khors the Pile Driver mentioned before, the whole thing felt unsettling in a way she couldn't ignore.
As they headed toward the monument, Koleda and Grace shared another sincere and emotional conversation.
By the end of it, Koleda opened up about the last thing she saw before her father disappeared, which explained why she had always held such strong bias against him.
Koleda had always avoided talking about it because she didn't want her father to be labeled as someone irredeemably bad.
If she told the truth, she felt no one would believe in him anymore.
After finally saying it all, Koleda felt relieved, while Grace remained close, offering quiet comfort like a true older sister.